Special Education

Special Education has always been close to my heart, having taught for several years in a vocational setting at two high schools... But my real internship in the world of special education took place after I gave birth to three premature boys within a four year period...I continued my ‘research’ into the mind of the at-risk child by spending 15 years in 3 elementary schools as a parent volunteer, 5 of those years in a primary intensive language class-(whose teacher was a visionary)- where a ‘unique program’ using yeast dough, was begun. This unique field study, spanning nearly 5 years, helped engender my passion for special ed.  At the core of this program was the art of asking questions and the development of vocabulary. ...The application and implication of yeast dough in the primary intensive language classroom were mind boggling. Curiosity and creativity were fostered within a climate of learning fun.  ... It was experiential learning at its best! The goal? Higher order thinking!

Our first born arrived over three months early and was not expected to live. By day two, he had a 10% chance of survival with a 50% chance of being in special education by week’s end, I was told. Interesting how quickly and early children are labelled who have not had the chance to audition. Our son’s birth weight of 3 pounds 2 ounce dropped to 2 pounds 12 ounces. It was a life changing event.  The year was 1979.

‘M’ participated in an infant stimulation program for two years, and a one year speech program in the year preceding kindergarten. Each and every day during this period, detailed records were made of ‘M’s language misses and near misses and copies of these observations brought to the therapy sessions.  But his real ‘speech therapists’ were his two younger brothers, three and one year olds, whose interaction with their older brother proved to be an invaluable source of  cognitive stimulation and language acquisition. ...   Role playing, listening to music, singing and the use of  walkie-talkie devices were just a few of the invaluable tools that helped in building language for all our boys while they played together. ... Our living room, where headquarters was located, was constantly under siege. By the age of 3 ½, our oldest still had a limited vocabulary. Nursery school two mornings a week was initiated to boost his self-esteem and aid in  language acquisition and understanding.   

Special education is many things. It is brain stimulation at its best. It can occur anywhere a caring adult wishes to engage the child. Special education is  an approach, a way of looking at life that speaks to the child in meaningful, thoughtful ways.  (It is also about music appreciation and music's profound effect on cognition and overall physical and mental health.) ...  Special education, properly administered, aids in building a child's self-esteem and body image, comprehension, letter/number recognition, reading, writing, sequencing and social competence. Special education is all encompassing. It aids in helping the child discover the world around him and the world within him.